Hungarian protests in fourth day BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP...

September 21, 2006

Hungarian protests in fourth day BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -- Thousands of protesters demonstrated outside parliament for a fourth day Wednesday demanding Hungary's prime minister resign over a leaked recording in which he admitted his government lied about the dismal state of the economy. The demonstrators' numbers swelled to about 15,000 by late evening, but Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany stood his ground, insisting his government intended to press ahead with economic reforms. Before dawn, a much smaller group of protesters marched to the nearby headquarters of state television, demanding to be allowed to proclaim their complaints on a live broadcast after police used tear gas and water cannons to repel dozens of mostly young men who stormed the building's main entrance. At least two cars were set on fire outside the television headquarters and protesters kept charging the building and throwing rocks at police inside. A nearby stone memorial to Soviet troops who ousted the Nazis from Hungary at the end of World War II was vandalized. Several violent outbursts during the dayslong protests have left about 140 officers injured, including 38 early Wednesday, and 137 people have been detained, said Arpad Szabadfi, deputy chief of national police. Dozens of demonstrator also were hurt, officials said.